MANY Mornington Peninsula cyclists are gearing up for the Around the Bay bike ride on Sunday 8 October.
Some, like Carly and Rob Jordan and their daughter, have signed on because of the enjoyment they get from completing as a family.
Carly and now 11-year-old daughter Laila completed the 50-kilometre ride last year, while dad Dan completed the 300km ride. This year is Laila’s third ride, after she completed the 20-kilometre distance with her dad and older sister Mia in 2019.
Next month, Carly and Laila will do it all again on the 50-kilometre ride with family friends Kady and Ewen Marsh and their daughter Ava, while Dan will stick to the 220km ride.
Carly said the family was used to riding as a team with her and Dan taking their children on family rides since they were old enough to get on a bike.
“I used to take the girls with me when they were small, and when they were big enough to ride themselves, we used to ride from Red Hill to Merricks,” she said.
Laila said she loved the challenge of the Around the Bay ride, with the best part being seeing the view from the Westgate Bridge.
“Not many people get to see Melbourne or the bridge from that angle,” she said.
The worst thing, she said, was being cold and wet that day and unable to move her frozen hands.
The Jordans are among 10,000 riders registered for the event, with most rides starting and finishing at Albert Park Lake (except one from Geelong).
There will be closed roads around the lake to offer riders of all abilities a separated route for traffic-free family fun. For the first time the ride will also include a closed lane and reduced speeds on the Princes Freeway for riders of the Classic (220km) and the 300km ride.
This year also for the first-time riders will be fully supported around Port Philip, and there will be seven different ride options.
Bicycle Network CEO Alison McCormack said participants like the Jordans will be experienced bike riders while others will be saddling up for their first Around the Bay.
For more event information got to aroundthebay.com.au
First published in the Mornington News – 3 October 2023
